The Human Ecology Building was designed for a variety of departments in order to facilitate collaboration in a healthy and creative space. The new 89,000-square-foot facility features high-tech laboratories and classrooms, studios for drawing, design and fabrication, as well as a spacious gallery. Five departments make their home here now: Human Development (HD), Policy Analysis & Management (PAM), Division of Nutritional Sciences (DNS), Design & Environmental Analysis (DEA), and Fiber Science & Apparel Design (FSAD). Conveniently located on the Ithica campus, students and researchers have easy access to the rest of the school and experts which may be able to assist in their interdisciplinary work.

Aiming for LEED Platinum certification, Cornell’s latest addition features the latest in sustainable building technologies as a way to aid the ongoing research inside. Daylighting permeates the interior through the innovative low-e glass facades that feature fritting. To reduce energy use, the building also has insulated panels, a high performance lighting system, occupancy sensors, and efficient MEP equipment. There is a green roof, sustainable landscaping, furniture salvaged and refinished from existing inventory, and an electric vehicle charging station.

“There’s a commingling of research units and faculty expertise that matches the character of Human Ecology, where we reach across disciplines to work on common issues,” Kay Obendorf, senior associate dean of research and graduate education said. “The whole building is intentionally designed to foster these types of collaborations.”